Yellowstone bison to be transferred to Fort Peck

BILLINGS — Montana wildlife officials say a group of about 140 bison captured from Yellowstone National Park will be relocated to the Fort Peck Indian Reservation next week.

Fish, Wildlife and Parks Director Jeff Hagener on Wednesday approved the transfer of the animals.

The bison went through a lengthy quarantine to ensure they don’t carry the animal disease brucellosis.

They’ve been held for the past several years on a ranch owned by former media mogul Ted Turner after prior relocation proposals fell through.

Yellowstone’s bison are prized for their pure genetics.

— The Associated Press

Conservation groups, tribes and wildlife agencies from several states had sought to receive some of the animals.

But state wildlife commissioners last month rejected a recommendation from Hagener’s staff that would have sent most of the animals out of state.